Sanding wheel



Jan. 1, 1929.

J. F. WEBBER SANDING WHEEL 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 12, 1926 J. F. WEBB ER SANDING WHEEL Jan. 1, 1929.

Filed May 12, 1926 2 sheets sheet 2 Patented Jan. 1, 192 9.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. WEBBER, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN GLUE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SANDING WHEEL.

Application filed May 12,

The invention relates to an improvement in sanding wheels for use in smoothing down irregularly shaped surfa'ces especially the fashioned or moulded surfaces of articles made of wood. Usually the work performed byvthe wheel is done by hand, but sanding wheels mechanically driven have to a certain extent been used for the purpose with indifferent 'the employment of relatively wide collars presenting an extensive bearing surface.

The employment of such wide collars, however, is altogether objectionable.

In order that the wheel may fuction effectively it is necessary that the outer portions of the strips of sandpaper, as distinguished from those portions thereof at the hub of the wheel, be left free and flaccid in order that the strips may mushroom and open up in' the operation of the wheel. It should be explained in this connection that the outer surface of the wheel performs the sanding operation as the wheel is rapidly rotated, the outer edges of the strips of sandpaper breaking down to form a more or less continuous or homogeneous abrasive surface. This surface, however should not be a' stlfi' surface but a Y very yielding surface in order that the article worked upon may enter into it as it is pressed against the wheel to receive the sanding operation. Accordingly it will be seen that the useof any wide collars for binding the laminae together acts to prevent a proper functioning of the wheel although it may work to a certain extent. I

Another very important point relates to the lifeof the wheel. At the most the life of a sanding wheel is short, even under the most-favorable conditions thewheel lasting but a few hours before it is worn away. Therefore it is very necessary that the laminae be .bound together in such manner as will ensure to the wheel as long a life as possible. The use of wide bearing collars or clamps,

1926. Serial No. 108,629.

made as they are of metal, preventsany long life to the wheel, for as soon as the wheel has been worn down to the peripheral edge of these collars it can no longer safely be used owing to the fact that all flexibility in the working surface of the wheel is gone and the proper rotation of the wheel in operation..

In other words, the object is attained by so forming the wheel as to impart to it such necessary flexibility of abrasive surface durmg the working life of the wheel and such character, also, as will enable it to be worn down substantially to the point of the hub structure, thereby prolonging the life of the wheel.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheel.

Fig. 2 is a plan of one of the laminae. 1

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the laminae. and

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the wheel.

Referring to the drawings .1 represents the sanding'wheel which is of laminated structure, each lamina consisting of a strip or piece of sandpaper or sand cloth 2. Oloth' constitutes the body of each strip to which the sand is applied, as it is stronger and lasts longer than paper; Sand'is applied to both.

sides of the fabric body-and by sand is meant any abradant of whatever nature. whether natural or artificial. Each strip of sandpaper or lamina is preferably of rectangular form, its essential form, however, being such as will adapt it to provide a central or hub-forming portion 3 having in it a hole 4 and outside the portion 3 a more or.

less extensive portion 5 which assists in formin g the working portion of the wheel, as will later be explained. It is also desirable that each strip shall present at its extremities corner edges 6 as the breaking down of these or some woven fabric preferably edges of all the strips assists in providing a proper abrading surface for the wheel, especially when the wheel is first used.

collectively the hub 3 of the wheel with hole 4'extending laterally through it, andthe portions 5 of the strips forming collectively the workin or abrading portion 5 of the wheel.

The hu forming portions 3 of the strips are bound together by some strong adhesive such as-glue which is applied to and between the abrasive coatings 0 adjacent strips. After the application of the glue the strips are held bound together under heavy pressure until derpressure ,when the w the glue has set. By thus uniting the strips by bonding the abrasive surface of one strip to the abrasive-surface of the iiext abrasive strip by means of an adhesive and applied pressure, such bond will be obtained between all of the strips as will resist all torsional strainwhich mightotherwise tend to loosen or disrupt the strips from the hub during the operation of the wheel. In other words, a hub is provided of such composite structure having such inherent strength as to prevent disruption of any of its composite parts, and this without the necessity of provlding any auxiliary support of clam ing means such as are customarily employe Theouter portions 5 ofthe-stri s emanating from the hub,

forming as they 0 the working or abrading portion of the wheel, are left entirely free.

For the' urpose of reinforcing the o'pposite sides 0 the wheel, providing a side bears mg for any mechanism that may be used for rotating the wheel, and for the purpose also of providing an edge around which the rtions '5 of the wheel may mushroom or nd durin the operation of the wheel, the opposite si es of the wheel are each provided with annular cheeks 7 of some fibrous material such as rather heavy cardboard or fibreboard, a proximating the size but preferabl e true hub of the wheel:

slightly arger than t Each ofthe checks 7 is applied to the side of the wheel by gluing to the cheek a backing 8 ofsandpa r or sand cloth like that of which 'the.w eel is formed, and the outer abrasive coatin of this backing so applied is glued. to the a rasive coatings of all of the stnpls which form the side of the wheel at the ub, the cheeks usually being applied uneel is formed.

The wheel may be rotated in any suitable manner. In practice rotatlon 1s usually effected by :a rotary spindle 9 extending.

through the hole 4 in the wheel and the wheel fixed to the spindle by' means of relatively fore described.

In connection with the operation of the wheel, it will firstbe seen that it is so formed that the abrading portion 5 of the wheel is left relatively long in a radial direction and absolutely free and unbound. As the wheel,

is rapidly rotated and the work is brought into contact with it, the outer corner edges 6 of the various strips forming the wheel arefirst broken'down, the strips soon forming collectively a practically homogeneous abrasive surface but a yieldin surface into which the work may be embed ed so that the abrading surface can reach all parts of the work. The abrading ortion of the wheel will also tend to mus room or bend outwardly toward each side, but any excessive bending is prevented by the peripheral edges 11 of the cheeks 7 at either side of the wheel. The wheel may be used untilits abrazding portion has been worn down to. the points of the edges 11 of the cheeks, and inasmuch as the cheeks are made of fibrous material, no harm will ensue even if the work be brought into contact with their edges, which may be worn away as the strips are worn away, the usefulness of the wheel continuing down to the pointof its hub.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States a 1. A sanding wheel of laminated character comprising in combination a collection of ln'divldual strips of fibrous material, each coated onits opposite sides with an abradant,

and an adhesive bonding together adjacent abradant-coatedportions of said collection of strips to form a composite hub for said wheel with other freeabradant-coated portions of said strips extending from said hub.

2. A sanding wheel of laminated character comprising in combination a collection of individual strips of fibrousmaterial, each coated on its opposite sides with an abradant,

an adhesive bonding together adjacent abradant-coated portions of said collection of strips to form a composite hub for said wheel with other free abradant-coated portions of said strips extendin from. said hub, and cheeks of some still brous material bonded to the opposite sides of said wheel adjacent the hub thereof.

JAMES F. WEBBER. 

